Chrysanthemum plant

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum cultivar known by the cultivar name Heirloom and characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 85 to 95 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a single stem cut spray; and semi-upright branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name Heirloom.

Heirloom is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with daisy capitulumtype, white ray floret color, eight or nine week flowering response, andwith the ability to produce commercially acceptable quality in yearround cut mum programs. Such traits in combination were not present inpreviously available commercial cultivars.

Heirloom was originated from a hybridization made in a controlledbreeding program in Barberton, Ohio in 1976. The female parent was awhite daisy seedling (unnamed, No. 74079001) originated from ahybridization of two unnamed seedlings. The male parent of Heirloom wasa white daisy seedling (unnamed, No. 74031001) originated from ahybridization of two unnamed seedlings.

Heirloom was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Jack M. Meek and William E. Duffett onAug. 22, 1977 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Heirloom was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in February,1978 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by Jack M. Meekand William E. Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected unitsinitiated May 26, 1978 has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for Heirloom are firmly fixed andare retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Heirloom has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Heirloom which in combination distinguishthis chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) flat capitulum form,

(2) daisy capitulum type,

(3) white ray floret color,

(4) yellow-green (immature) to yellow (mature) disc floret color,

(5) diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 85 to 95 mm. atmaturity,

(6) uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days,

(7) medium peduncle length, ranging from 100 to 175 mm.,

(8) medium plant height (requiring one to two long day weeks prior toshort days to attain a flowered plant height of 65 to 75 cm. for Maythrough October flowerings), and

(9) semi-upright branching pattern.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar existing cultivar in comparison to Heirloom is the cultivarWhite Marble (unpatented). Reference is made to attached Chart A whichcompares certain characteristics of Heirloom to those samecharacteristics of White Marble. In general comparison to White Marble,Heirloom has larger diameter across face of capitulum and shorterpeduncle length. The ray floret color, capitulum form, capitulum type,plant height and flowering response period of Heirloom are similar tothose same characteristics of White Marble.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Heirloom, with colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a color photographof Heirloom. Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph showing five viewsof the inflorescence of Heirloom. Sheet 3 is a black and whitephotograph showing the foliage of Heirloom at three stages of growth.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S.) Color Chart. The color values weredetermined between 1:30 and 2:00 P.M. on Oct. 22, 1979 under 100foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Heirloom.

I. Inflorescence:

A. Capitulum (See Sheets 1 and 2 of drawings).--Form: flat. Type: daisy.Diameter across face: 85 to 95 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets.--General tonality (from a distance of threemeters): white, 155-D. Color (abaxial): 155-D. Color (adaxial): 155-D.

C. Corolla of disc florets.--Color (abaxial): approximately 14-A. Color(adaxial): approximately 144-A (immature) to 14-A (mature).

D. Reproductive organs.--Androecium: present disc florets only; scant tonumerous; moderate pollen. Gynoecium: present both ray and disc florets.

II. Plant:

A. General appearance.--Branching pattern: semi-upright. Height: medium,60 to 70 cm. given no long days for May through October flowerings.

B. Foliage (See Sheets 1 and 3).--Color (abaxial): approximately 147-A.Color (adaxial): approximately 147-B. Shape: deeply lobed and slightlyserrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF HEIRLOOM AND WHITE MARBLE                                       ______________________________________                                                                         DIAMETER                                                          CAPITULUM   ACROSS                                                RAY FLORET  FORM AND    FACE OF                                      CULTIVAR COLOR       TYPE        CAPITULUM                                    ______________________________________                                        HEIRLOOM White       Flat Daisy  85 to 95 mm.                                 WHITE    White       Flat Daisy  70 to 85 mm.                                 MARBLE                                                                        ______________________________________                                                             FLOWERING                                                         PLANT       RESPONSE    PEDUNCLE                                     CULTIVAR HEIGHT      PERIOD      LENGTH                                       ______________________________________                                        HEIRLOOM Medium      9 week      Medium                                                60 to                   100 to                                                70 cm.                  175 mm.                                      WHITE    Medium      9 week      Long                                         MARBLE   60 to                   180 to                                                70 cm.                  250 mm.                                      ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE STEM                               CUT SPRAYS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                         

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium,Ramat., plant known by the cultivar name Heirloom and particularlycharacterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flatcapitulum form; daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameteracross face of capitulum ranging from 85 to 95 mm. at maturity; uniformnine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; mediumpeduncle length; medium plant height when grown as a single stem cutspray; and semi-upright branching pattern.